10 Things You Need To Do When Your Child Turns One

A baby’s first birthday is such an exciting and busy time! You have to plan a first birthday party, and deal with the fact that you do not have a little baby anymore, but there are also other things you need to do when your child turns one to prepare them for the upcoming toddler years.

Up until this point, you are used to having to deal with a baby, and doing all of the things needed to care for a baby daily. Well, you have a toddler now, so it’s time to throw those old baby habits out the window, and focus on getting your child ready for their toddler years! 😀

This is such a bitter sweet time, because you want your little one to stay little forever, but it will be beneficial for both you and your toddler to get them prepared for the big kid life! So here are 10 things you need to do when your child turns one.

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1. Baby Stuff

It is time to get rid of all of the baby stuff you are constantly tripping over! Your little baby is now 12 months old, and is probably already walking or at least very close to walking, so they do not need all the baby gear anymore.

6. Pacifier

You do not want to have a 4 year old child that still has a pacifier, so the sooner you take the pacifier away, the easier it will be for you.

The longer your child is attached to the pacifier, the bigger fit they are going to throw when they can’t have it.

The easiest way to stop using the pacifier, is to just take it away! No weaning and procrastinating, just cold turkey.

7. Crib

I recommend transferring the baby to a toddler bed as soon as possible. Keep in mind, this one can be up for debate, because some one year olds are just not ready.

My son started climbing out of his crib just before he turned one, and I was terrified he was going to fall and get hurt. One morning he climbed out of his crib onto his changing table, and I decided to get a toddler bed that day!!

Hear me out…think about teaching a child manners. If you teach a child to say please and thank you as soon as they start talking, they will be used to using manners, and they will understand that they need to use manners to get what they want.

If you wait to teach your child to say please and thank you until they are six years old, they will be harder to teach. They will be used to getting what they want without having to use their manners.

It will take more time and more patience to teach the older child manners.

The same thing goes for teaching a toddler to sleep in a toddler bed. If you take a three year old out of a crib and put them in a toddler bed, they will realize they can get out of bed and explore. It will more difficult to get them to stay in bed, because they now have all this freedom that they have never had up until this point.

If you take a one year, and put them in a toddler they will adapt to the change a lot sooner.

8. Learning

Up until 12 month olds, you main job was to keep your baby alive. You had to feed them, change them, and put them to sleep.

Now, it’s time to start teaching them things they will need to learn in their toddler years.

I used this book with my son (they also have an app that speaks the words) starting around 11.5 months. By 14 months, he knew every words in the 12 month, 18 month, and 24 month edition. So start early and be consistent, it will be worth it.

9. Discipline

When your child has free roam of the house and starts to talk, they will start gaining independence. They will want to get into everything, and start throwing temper tantrums when they do not get their way.

Start getting an idea of how you want to handle discipline and punishment.

Make sure to check out the article Tackling The Terrible Twos. Keep in mind, the terrible twos can start a lot earlier than two years old.

10. Get Prepared For The Fun

One year old is such a fun age to spend with children. They are learning something new everyday. You will start to see them come into their own personality.

So get prepared to have a blast with your little one, and make sure to take advantage of all the adorable moments. You will blink and your toddler will turn into a big kid.

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Alison

I'm Alison! I married my high school sweetheart, and had two wonderful babies. I'm a stay-at-home mom just trying to live life to the fullest. I'm just your everyday mother: I need coffee to get out of bed in the morning, I live for hugs from my little ones, and I love sharing my stories and experience.